It's one of the very best days of the year on the local hockey calendar.

Good morning to you.

Good Wednesday morning.

I'm Dan Kravach of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports.

This is Daily Shot of Penguins. It comes your way bright and early. Every weekday, if you're into football and or baseball, I also offer daily shots of Steelers and Pirates in the same place that you found this.

Penguins versus Sabres is tonight, 7.08 p.m. at PPG paints arena.

It is, of course, the traditional Thanksgiving Eve game in Pittsburgh.

It's something that not even the most impassioned, dedicated, local hockey historians or experts can pinpoint when and why it got started,

but it got started a long time ago.

And it's the one date for those of you who don't know this on the entire six-month

NHL calendar that the league grants to the Penguins for a home game.

They understand that it's a special event here.

I have my own theories on it.

I know for a fact that a lot of people, including both of my kids, come home to see the family for the Thanksgiving holiday.

My daughter lives in New York.

My son is going to school in Philadelphia.

They're here.

And when those younger fans come home, whether it's from college or work or whatever, when they come home.

And that's what this is, by the way.

Never refer to Pittsburgh as just Pittsburgh if you're from here.

It's home.

Home.

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